4 Essential Tips to Help Beginners Learn Tai Chi Faster

Many people start Tai Chi thinking learning movements is about  memorising where the hands go, where the feet land, and trying to “look right”.

If that’s you, you’re not alone.

But here’s a gentle truth: Tai Chi is not learned by copying shapes .
It’s learned by understanding why the movement exists, slowing down enough to feel it, and letting the body reorganise itself naturally.

When you practise this way, learning doesn’t feel hard — it actually speeds up.

Below are four simple but powerful principles to help beginners learn Tai Chi more efficiently, safely, and confidently.

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At a Glance: 4 Ways to Learn Tai Chi Faster

1. Understand the Why and How of Each Posture

When I ask people what they know about TaiChi, I hear some answers such as :

“Tai Chi is hands are telling stories.”
“There are thousands of ways to place the hands and feet.”

That’s true — but if we focus only on how Tai Chi looks, it can quickly feel confusing and overwhelming. In the old days, Tai Chi was often taught in a half-closed-door way, passed down mainly within families. People could see what Tai Chi looked like, but they didn’t know how to practise it.

Every Tai Chi posture is functional — whether it supports balance, stability, coordination, power transfer, or internal alignment. Each movement also has a purpose and a martial application. This is why we practise in a very specific way.

For example, in the posture Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg (see picture below), why do we lift the arm and the leg on the same side, rather than on opposite sides?

Most beginners learn Tai Chi visually. We watch, we copy shapes, and that’s a very natural place to start. But if imitation is the only method you learnt Taichi, unfortunately you probably will not get to experience the real flavour of Taichi. 

I once met a student who was prepared to teach Taichi after 5 years daily practice but he told me his knees hurt every time after practice. That felt strange, because Tai Chi is meant to support the joints, not strain them. When I watched him move, the reason became clear, there was some fundamental mistakes in the way he moved- he had been copying the outer shape by placing hands or feet in the right position, but he had not learnt how to use his body in a Tai Chi way.

In many community classes, teachers often say, “Just follow me.” For me, this misses the heart of Tai Chi. Clear  instruction must be given because Taichi is an internal martial art. It’s not about performance—it’s about safety, understanding, and giving the body the chance to truly benefit from the practice.

 
When you understand where the posture is coming from and the why, the body naturally knows where to place the hands and feet.

Don’t learn the shape by copying.
Learn the reason the movement exists.

This is why Tai Chi is good for body and mind, and it’s praised as gentleman's martial art - it is embodied understanding. And perhaps, that's why Taichi is popular among upper class and royal families in the old times. 

 

2. Slow Down — Because Slowness Is a Skill

Can you move slowly? Many people think slow movement is easy. That's another misconception. 
In reality, moving slowly requires more strength, coordination, and a calm mind.

Someone once said to me :

“I can do 108 forms in three minutes.”

I was shocked ! I don't understand why ~ If your goal is memorising a sequence, moving quickly in your mind can help. 

But when practising physically, fast movement often sacrifices:
-accuracy
-internal connection
-joint safety
-depth of sensation

From a health perspective, Tai Chi works deeply with fascia, connective tissue, ligaments, and joints.These tissues respond to slow, medium, and sustained stimulation — not quick repetition.

This is what supports:
-healthy joints
-long-term mobility; and
-vitality as we age

Speed trains muscles.
Slowness trains the whole system.

3. Grounding: Where Balance and Calm Really Come From

In Tai Chi, grounding is both a method and a result.

Grounding means shifting primary attention away from your hands and upper body — and down into your legs and feet.

In psychology, we often read a person’s deeper emotions from their body language. Similarly:

-The upper body reflects thinking and mental activity
-The lower body reflects the subconscious, the heart, and authenticity

Tai Chi allows the mind to rest and invites us to listen inwardly.

By connecting the soles of the feet — especially the Yongquan (Bubbling Well) points — into the ground, we connect with the whenua, the earth beneath us.

In Taoism:

-Yin is heavy, downward, invisible support
-Yang is light, upward, visible vitality

When the legs are strong and rooted (yin), energy rises naturally (yang). I always remind my students who come to Taichi for better balance: 

Your balance does not live in your arms.

This is why Tai Chi is so effective for improving balance, especially for seniors — and why grounding also helps calm an overactive mind.

4. Stay in a Community — Learning Is Not Meant to Be Lonely

Humans are not designed to learn or heal alone.

Even though Tai Chi is a personal inner experience, it has often been practised together — in parks, courtyards, and community spaces.

There is strong evidence that group learning improves motivation and consistency. When you hear others share similar experiences, it reassures you:

“I’m not behind. I’m just learning.”

Tai Chi teaching works best when:

-students practise together

-teachers offer individual guidance

-experience is shared and supported

In Tai Chi Healing, 1 + 1 is more than 2.

Practising in a community can amplify the healing effect. So join a community, when you learn online, join our monthly Taichi online catch-up, meet other like-minded people and amplify the healing energy for yourself and others.

🌿 Ready to Begin, Gently?

If you’re new to Tai Chi and want a clear, supportive structure, my 8-Week Tai Chi for Beginners Online Course is designed to help you:

-build strong foundations

-understand why you move, not just how

-practise safely at your own pace

-feel benefits from the very beginning

👉 Explore the 8-Week Tai Chi for Beginners Online Course

You don’t need to be flexible, fit, or confident.
You just need to begin